Luggage article adapted for rolling transport



Feb. 22, 1966 F. w JOHANSEN 3,236,533

LUGGAGE ARTICLE ADAPTED FOR ROLLING TRANSPORT Filed Dec. 115, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 I k L 16 INVENTOR. F250 M-JOH/QA/SE/Y',

Feb. 22, 1966 F. w. JOHANSEN 3,236,538

LUGGAGE ARTICLE ADAPTED FOR ROLLING TRANSPORT Filed Dec. 15, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fFLOl KJO/f/VAAEEM Feb. 22, 1966 R w. JQHANSEN 3,236,538

LUGGAGE ARTICLE ADAPTED FOR ROLLING TRANSPORT Filed Dec. 13, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,236,538 LUGGAGE ARTICLE ADAPTED FOR ROLLING TRANSPORT Fred W. Johansen, 2916 Bridge Chaney Road, Silver Spring, Md. Filed Dec. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 244,324 9 Claims. (Cl. 280-47.31)

loaded articles of luggage, it is difficult for travellers,

salesmen and the like to carry their own luggage for any appreciable distance. Consequently, many women and young travellers are required, by necessity, to take advantage of the rather expensive services of porters, bellboys and the like. In the past it has been proposed to provide casteror dollie attachments to the luggage articles so that they might be pulled along the ground by the user. Because of the small outer diameters of the casters,

they often engage cracks or small depressions in the supporting surface and thereby hinder transport of the luggage. Furthermore, in addition to rnarring the est-hetic appearance of the luggage, the casters are subject to breakage and loss.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved article of luggage of drum-shaped appearance, said luggage including identical circular rim .portions of relatively large diameter about which the entire luggage body is rolled.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a drum-shaped article of luggage including a pair of end walls defining parallel, coaxially-spaced circular rims, and handle means rotatably connected at each end to the centers of the end walls for rolling the luggage about its rims. In accordance with the invention, at least a portion of one of the end walls s pivotally connected, by hinges, to the luggage body portion to define a lid member affording access to the luggage interior. To provide a large access opening, this lid portion is larger than half the size of the end wall andcontains the center axis thereof. Means are provided for securing the movable lid member in a closed position relative to the luggage body mernber. In addition to the use ofconventional separable fastener means, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention these lid securing means may also include the handle means itself. In this case, the handle comprises a pair of rigid legs rotatably connected with the centers of the end walls, respectively, and means releasably conneoting said legs with each other. While the luggage members are particularly adapted for manufacture preferably by molding) from a suitable durable synthetic plastic material (for example, polypropylene), the luggage may also be of a conventional frame and covering structure. Steering of the luggage during rolling transport is readily accomplished by the handle means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article of luggage including a drum-shaped body including circular rim portions, handle means rotatably connected at each end to the centers of the end walls of said body, and means displaceaible from a retracted position to an extended position relative to said body to prevent rolling transport thereof.

a'lo'ng-its length with a :planar, fiat portion 4a.

3,236,538 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 "ice Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the stabilizing foot thereof being illustrated in the retracted position;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are detailed sectional views taken along lines 2-2 and 3-3, respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view, with certain parts broken away, of the luggage of FIG. 1 with the stabilizing foot in the extended position;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view, partly in section, of the luggage of FIG. 1 in the open condition;

FIG. '6 is a detailed view of a modification of the stabilizing foot means of the FIG. 1 embodiment; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective and end views, respectively, of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring first tothe embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, the luggage article includes a body member 2 having a tubular longitudinal wall 4 to which is secured the rim or flange portion 6 of a circular end wall 8. Wall 4 is provided Pivotally connected to flat portion 4a by a pair of hinges 10 is a lid member 12 which includes a circular end Wall 14 provided with a rim or flange portion 16. In the closed FIG. 1 condition, end walls 8 and 14 are parallel and circular rim portions 6 and 16, which have the same outer diameter, are arranged coaxially. Rim portions 6 and 16 are provided, on their inner circumferences, with flat portions 6a and 16a, respectively, that are parallel with surface 4a when the luggage is in the closed FIG. 1 position. Body wall 4 is provided with a longitudinal recess 4b in which is secured the keeper element 18 of lock means 20. Hasp element 22 is hingedly connected with rim portion 16 and is arranged for locking cooperation with the keeper as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Body and lid members 2 and 12, respectively, are formed from suitable materials conventional in the luggage art. Preferably, the various members are molded from a durable, synthetic plastic material, such as polypropylene or the like. If desired, the cylindrical wall, end wall and rim portions of body member 2 may be molded as a single unit.

The luggage includes a rigid U-shaped handle 26 pivotally connected at its extremities to the centers of end walls 8 and 14 by pivot pins 24. Handle 26 includes a pair of right-angled sections 2611 and 26b which are separably connected by the telescopic and pin connection 28. Locking pin 30, which extends through aligned openings in the telescoping portions of the handle sections, has a right-angled extension 30a that is vertically movable in aligned slots 32 in section 2611. Spring means 34 'bia's rod 30 upwardly toward the illustrated locked position. Each of the legs of handle sections 26a and 26b is adjustable in length and includes a pair of telescopic tubular elements 36 and 38. Spring-biased lockingpins 40 mounted in elements 36 cooperate with openings 42 in elements 38 to secure the elements in desired relative positions.

Connected to the outer surface of flat portion 4a by a pair of hinges 44 is a retractable stabilizing foot 46. Foot 46, which consists -of a rigid rectangular plate, is maintained in the retracted FIG. 1 position by a horizontal locking pin 48 secured to one end of a shaft 50. Shaft 50 extends through slot 52 and is rotatably connected at its other end with fiat portion 4a. A similar locking pin 54 is rotatably connected with rim portion 6 and for locking the foot in the extended position of FIG. 4. When in the extended FIG. 4 position, the lower edge 46a of foot 46 is tangential to the circular peripheral surfaces of rim portions 6 and 16 and thereby prevents rolling movement of the luggage.

It is apparent that when the luggage is in the FIG. 1 transporting condition supported by fiat surface S, a user may apply a pulling force to handle 26 and thereby cause the luggage to roll freely on rim portions 6 and 16 about the horizontal pivot axis of pins 24. Should the user, upon reaching his destination, desire to maintain the luggage in a stationary position, the luggage is rotated until the flat portion 4a is uppermost, whereupon pins 48 and 54 are pivoted to positions coplanar with slot 52. Foot plate 46 is then pivoted outwardly to cause pin 54 to pass through slot 52, whereupon pin 54 is rotated to a locking position normal to the slot. The luggage is lifted slightly from the surface S, is rotated 180, and is lowered to the FIG. 4 position, whereupon edge 46a cooperates with surface S to prevent further rolling motion of the luggage.

Should the user desire to adjust the handle length, pins 40 are inserted manually, and elements 38 are displaced longitudinally relative to elements 36 until a desired new set of openings 42 are arranged opposite the pins, whereupon the pins are spring biased outwardly and cooperative with the openings to again lock the elements in place.

Assume now that it is desired to open the luggage. The luggage is turned laterally upon end wall 8 (i.e., 90 from the FIG. position), lock 20 is opened, and rod 30 is displaced against spring means 34 to permit disconnection of handle sections 26a and 26b. Lid member 2 is pivoted upwardly (together with handle section 26a) about the axis of hinge means 10 to a vertical position permitting free access to the chamber defined in body member 2. To close the luggage, lid member 12 is pivoted downwardly to the closed position, clasp member 22 is shut upon keeper element 18, and, by appropriate manipulation of rod 30, handle sections 26a and 26b are again rigidly connected by connecting means 28.

Since both the lock means and the rigid handle 26 maintain lid member 12 closed upon body member 2, the advantage is afforded that in the event lock means 20 is inadvertently released during handling or transport, opening of the luggage and spilling of the contents therefrom are prevented by the handle.

The necessity of locking pin means 54 may be obviated by providing spring means for biasing the foot toward the extended position. Referring to the modification of FIG. 6, one of the elements of hinge 44' is secured to the flat wall portion 4a, and the other element carries the foot plate 46'. The scissors spring 60 is secured between the hinge element, and biases food plate 46 outwardly toward the extended (FIGURE 4) position. Plate 46' is maintained in the illustrated retracted position against the biasing force of the spring by pin 48' carried by the rotatable shaft 50.

While the handle 26 of the FIG. 1 embodiment is preferably of rigid construction (the tubular elements thereof being formed of a light weight metal, such as aluminum, or of a rigid synthetic plastic material), it is also possible to use a handle that is in the form of a flexible strap (formed, for example, from leather, a woven belting material, or a flexible, durable synthetic plastic material).

Referring now to the modification of FIGS. 7 and 8, the luggage piece includes a body member 70 consisting of a cylindrical wall 72 secured at one end to rim disk 74. At the other end of wall 72 is arranged a rim disk 76 including sections 76a and 76b pivotally connected by hinge means 78. Section 76b is secured to the adjacent edge portion of cylindrical wall 72, and section 76a is pivotally movable between the closed position of FIG. 8 and the open position of FIG. 7. Rim disks 70 and 76 have circular outer peripheries of the same diameter and are coaxially arranged when in the closed (FIG. 8) condition. Lock means 80a and 80b are provided for connecting rim section 76a to wall 72.

Rigid handle 26, which is similar to that of FIGURE 1 andincludes separable sections 260 and 26b, is rot-atably connected at each end to the centers of rim disks 70 and 76 by pins 84.

Stabilizing foot means 86 are provided that are displaceable from a retracted position to an extended position to prevent rolling movement of the luggage piece. The foot means comprises a generally U-shaped rod member having a straight transverse portion 88 journalled in aligned openings 90 in wall 72, and a pair of leg portions 92 that are resiliently biased inwardly toward each other. Legs 92 terminate in rounded extremities 92a that are arranged to engage supporting surface S when the luggage is in the non-rolling condition of FIG. 8. Coil spring 94, which is connected at one end with rod portion 88 and has an extension 94a at its other end in engagement with disk 74, continuously biases foot 86 toward the illustrated extended position. To retract foot 86, the legs 92 thereof areresiliently biased apart, the foot is pivoted upwardly until the extremities 92a are opposite opposed slot 96 in wall 72, whereupon release of the legs causes the extremities thereof to be resiliently biased into the slots.

It is apparent that when foot 86 is in the retracted position, the luggage piece maybe rolled upon supporting surface S by the application of pulling force to flexible handle 82. It is obvious, of course, that instead of the sectional rigid handle, a flexible handle strap could be provided, if desired.

The luggage pieces of the invention may be easily transported with a minimum amount of effort as a result of the relatively large diameter of the rim portions upon which the luggage is rolled. Steering of the luggage is quite simple, particularly when a rigid handle such as that of the FIG. 1 embodiment is used. Separable rigid handles of other configurations (for example, a bifurcated fork-type handle) may also be utilized with the luggage as desired. Pockets may be provided on the interior wall surfaces of the body member for receiving articles (such as bottles of toiletry liquids) which are subjects to breakage during rolling transport. To reduce wear, metal rims may be mounted concentrically upon the peripheral surfaces of the rim portions of the end walls. If desired, these metal rims may be of ornamental appearance or design.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have illustrated and described the best forms and embodiments of the invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the apparatus described without deviating from the invention set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of luggage adapted for rolling transport, comprising a generally tubular body member;

first and second circular end wall means connected colinearly with said tubular body member to close the opposite ends thereof, said first and second end wall means containing on their outer peripheries parallel spaced circular rim surfaces having a common diameter greater than the outer diameter of said tubular body member;

rigid U-shaped handle means including a pair of rigid leg portions extending adjacent and parallel with the external surfaces of said end wall means, respectively, each of said leg portions being rotatably connected with the center of the end wall means associated therewith, and bridging portion means extending longitudinally the length of said body and releasably connecting said leg portions, said bridging portion means including a pair of telescopic sections rigidly secured at their ends with said legs, respectively, and fastener means releasably locking together said telescopic sections;

at least a portion of said second end wall means being connected for pivotal movement relative to said body member, said pivotal end wall portion having an area greater than half of the total area of said second Wall means and containing the center of said second wall means, whereby at least half of the rim surface of said second wall means is carried by said pivotal end wall portion; and

separable fastener means locking said pivotal end wall portion with said tubular body member, whereby said luggage article may be rolled upon said rim surfaces by said rigid handle means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the area of the pivotal portion of said second wall means is less than the total area of said second wall means, the remaining portion of said second wall means being secured to the adjacent end of said tubular body wall, said pivotal and remaining portions having contiguous linear edges, and hinge means adjacent said linear edges for pivotally connecting together said pivotal and remaining portions.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said end wall means comprise planar discs.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and further including foot means displaceable from a retracted position to an extended position to prevent rolling movement of said luggage article, said foot means comprising a generally U-shaped foot element having a transverse portion journalled in aligned transverse openings in said body member, and leg portions external of said body member; and spring means pivotally biasing said foot element toward said extended position, said legs extending outwardly beyond the peripheries of said rim surfaces when said foot element is in said extended position.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said body member includes a pair of slots opposite the extremities of said legs when said foot element is pivoted from said extended position to said retracted position, said legs being resiliently biased toward each other whereby the extremities thereof are biased into the slots.

6. An article of luggage adapted for rolling transport, comprising a generally tubular body member including on its outer periphery a flattened portion defining a planar surface extending longitudinally the length thereof;

first and second circular end wall means arranged to close opposite ends of said tubular body member, respectively, each of said end wall means including an axially extending generally annular flange portion mounted concentrically upon the corresponding end portion of said body member, the outer peripheral surfaces of said flange portions being circular and having a common diameter greater than the outer diameter of said tubular body member; means pivotally connecting said second wall means with the external surface of said flattened portion to permit opening of the second wall means from the corresponding end of said tubular body member;

separable fastener means locking said second wall means with said tubular body member; and

rigid U-shaped handle means including a pair of rigid leg portions extending adjacent and parallel with the external surfaces of said end wall means, respectively, each of said leg portions being rotatably connected at one end with the center of the end wall means associated therewith, and means including bridging portion means extending longitudinally the length of said body for releasably connecting the other ends of said leg portions.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, and further including a foot plate pivotally connected to the external surface of said flattened portion and displaceable from a retracted position to an extended position to prevent rolling movement of said luggage article, said foot plate in said extended position having an edge arranged tangentially relative to the peripheries of said rim surfaces.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, and further including pin and slot means for connecting said foot plate, when in the retracted position, to said flattened wall surface.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, and further including spring means biasing said foot plate toward said extended position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 148,464 3/1874 Johnson -210 546,429 9/ 1895 ONeall 19018 X 666,967 1/1901 Marx et al 280-473 X 1,249,489 12/1917 Powers 28047.37 2,595,269 5/1952 Keys 28047.33 3,116,069 12/ 1963 Dostal 28047.3 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 559,365 6/ 1923 France.

715,223 9/1954 Great Britain.

208,267 4/ 1940 Switzerland.

A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF LUGGAGE ADAPTED FOR ROLLING TRANSPORT, COMPRISING A GENERALLY TUBULAR BODY MEMBER; FIRST AND SECOND CIRCULAR END WALL MEANS CONNECTED COLINEARLY WITH SAID TUBULAR BODY MEMBER TO CLOSE THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, SAID FIRST AND SECOND END WALL MEANS CONTAINING ON THEIR OUTER PERIPHERIES PARALLEL SPACED CIRCULAR RIM SURFACES HAVING A COMMON DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE OUTER DIAMETER OF SAID TUBULAR BODY MEMBER; RIGID U-SHAPED HANDLE MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF RIGID LEG PORTIONS EXTENDING ADJACENT AND PARALLEL WITH THE EXTERNAL SURFACES OF SAID END WALL MEANS, RESEPCTIVELY, EACH OF SAID LEG PORTIONS BEING ROTATABLY CONNECTED WITH THE CENTER OF THE END WALL MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, AND BRIDGING PORTION MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THE LEGNTH OF SAID BODY AND RELEASABLY CONNECTING SAID LEG PORTIONS, SAID BRIDGING PORTION MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF TELESCOPIC SECTIONS RIGIDLY SECURED AT THEIR ENDS WITH SAID LEGS, RESPECTIVELY, AND FASTENER MEANS RELEASABLE LOCKING TOGETHER SAID TELESCOPIC SECTIONS; AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID SECOND END WALL MEANS BEING CONNECTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID BODY MEMBER, SAID PIVOTAL END WALL PORTION HAVING AN AREA GREATER THAN HALF OF THE TOTAL AREA OF SAID SECOND WALL MEANS AND CONTAINING THE CENTER OF SAID SECOND WALL MEANS, WHEREBY AT LEAST HALF OF THE RIM SURFACE OF SAID SECOND WALL MEANS IS CARRIED BY SAID PIVOTAL END WALL PORTION; AND SEPARABLE FASTENER MEANS LOCKING SAID PIVOTAL END WALL PORTION WITH SAID TUBULAR BODY MEMBER, WHEREBY SAID LUGGAGE ARTICLE MAY BE ROLLED UPON SAID RIM SURFACES BY SAID RIGID HANDLE MEANS. 